Teams unite on regulations

| Sat, 05/23/2009 - 03:02

Members of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) met here on Friday and hammered out a common position on the sport's regulations ahead of a meeting later in the day with the head of the international racing federation, Max Mosley.

''The meeting was very relaxed and constructive. We are all united and we want Formula 1 to have regulations which will enhance it value,'' Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said coming out of the meeting held on the yacht of Renault team chief Flavio Briatore.

Montezemolo, who is also FOTA chairman, explained that ''our aim is for Formula 1 to remain a Formula 1 and on this there is total agreement. And in order to do this we must all be constructive and realise that things can't go on they way they are now''.

''And this applies to the way the regulations are decided, without discussion or in-depth review, resulting in rules which betray the nature of Formula 1,'' he added.

Formula 1 has been rocked by a dispute between teams, primarily those of manufacturers like Ferrari and Renault, and Mosley over the regulations he has imposed for next year.

At issue is a voluntary budget cap that allows technical advantages to teams which stay below it.

The manufacturers, who use Formula 1 to test their innovative technologies, have objected that this will create an unacceptable two-tier system in which there will be two sets of regulations for the same sport.

Ferrari, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull and Toro Rosso have all said they will not signed up for next season if a two-tier system remains.

Teams have until May 29 to sign up for the 2010 season.

Mosley has said he will not budge on the budget cap which he believes will attract more teams to the sport.

Topic: